Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds
Ai weiweis sunflower seeds is an installation made up of 100 million hand painted porcelain sunflower seeds.
Ai weiwei sunflower seeds. Top image is by marcus leith. Early activism and sunflower seeds 100 million hand painted porcelain sunflower seeds which were produced by some 1600 chinese artisans. Artist ai weiweis sunflower seeds is made up of millions of small works each apparently identical but actually unique. Menu artwork info about.
Until the exhibit was roped off because of a feared health hazard ai had encouraged visitors to walk upon the seeds considering the fragile sculptures a metaphor for the downtrodden chinese populace. Sunflower seeds explores the complexity of the chinese individuals relationship with society the authorities and tradition. Waldopepper cc by nc 20 made in china more than 1600 artisans worked to make the individual porcelain seeds by hand in jingdzhen the city known as the porcelain capital where artists have been producing. Beijing 19932003 beijing 2003.
In this video ai weiwei gives insight into the background and production process of one of the most spectacular exhibitions of 2010 sunflower seeds at tate modern. Ai weiwei kui hua zi sunflower seeds 2010 one hundred million hand painted porcelain seeds tate modern london photo. It is a commentary on the mass production techniques that china caters to western countries. Made from imperial porcelein each is designed ot be unique.
Follow the artist to the city of jingdezhen in northern jiangxi china where all of the sunflower seeds have been individually hand sculpted and hand painted. Karen smith hans ulrich obrist bernard fibicher ai weiwei london 2009. Chinese artist ai weiwei has covered the floor of the turbine hall at tate modern in london with more than 100 million individually handmade replica sunflower seeds. Further reading charles merewether ed ai weiwei works.
Ai weiweis new 100m2 sculptural instillation covers the east end of the tates turbine hall this piece will immerse the viewer into a landscape of thousands of sunflower seeds. Kui hua zi sunflower seeds is an art installation created by contemporary artist and political activist ai weiweiit was first exhibited at the tate modern art gallery in london from october 2010 to may 2011.